Thursday, December 31, 2009

I want to tell you about one of the best repositories in Missouri. Many of you are aware that this repository has an excellent and award winning website on which they post searchable databases with links to digitized images. The archive that I am referring to is the Missouri State Archives.

Why is this repository my favorite one in Missouri? This repository is an excellent place to find Missouri records. They are the official archive for the state’s historical records. Below is a list of just a few of the types of records they house:

• County records (on microfilm) including: Court records (circuit, county and probate); county assessors and collectors records; deed records; county birth and death records between 1883-1893

• Civil War records (Office of the Adjutant General) - excellent source of records for state militia; court martial papers; some confederate and union materials; and U.S. Colored Troops muster rolls and service records

• Missouri census records

• Missouri State Penitentiary records – various records ranging in time from 1836-1892

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

I have decided to add a blog to my websites. This blog will contain general information about researching in the midwest, short blognotes about the midwest, news of genealogical events happening in or about the midwest and other items of interest. The blog is also open to others who would like to share what they know about researching in the midwest. It can be used to post questions and share ideas. I hope you will find it a welcome addition to my websites.

As an opener let's define what is considered the "Midwest" ~ The United States Census Bureau divides the United States into 4 geographic regions:

Northeast

South

Midwest

West

The Midwest consists of 12 states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. For more information describing the Midwest see this wikipedia site. The order of entry of the Midwestern States into the union is shown below:

Ohio - 17th state admitted in 1803

Indiana - 19th state admitted in 1816

Illinois - 21st state admitted in 1818

Missouri - 24th state admitted in 1821

Michigan - 26th state admitted in 1837

Iowa - 29th state admitted in 1846

Wisconsin - 30th state admitted in 1848

Minnesota - 32nd state admitted in 1858

Kansas - 34th state admitted in 1861

Nebraska - 37th state admitted in 1867

North and South Dakota - 39th & 40th states both admitted in in 1889

Early settlers began coming into the area known are "the Old Northwest Territory" at the turn of 19th century. Settlers of Scots-Irish origins poured into the area from Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania to purchase land. Another stimulus to settling the area were land warrants issued to Revolutionary War soldiers, who were mainly from Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey. The construction of the Erie Canal and later the railroad helped to bring new settlers into the area.

Some major factors affecting the settlement of the midwest include:

Northwest Ordinance in 1787

Establishment of roads such as the National Road, Braddocks Road, Cumberland Gap,

Louisiana Purchase in 1803

Building of the Erie Canal

Steamboats

Building of the railroads

Platte Purchase of 1837

Trails west including Oregon, Santa Fe

Gold discovered at Sutter's Mill in California 1849

Homestead Acts of 1862 and 1866

Treaties with Native Americans

This is just a brief synopsis of the opening of the Midwest to settlers and those who are our ancestors. If you want to learn more about this there are many many links on the internet that can help you.Some links I find helpful include:

If you would like to share any sources of information you have that would help others learn more about the settlement of the Midwest please feel free to add a post to this Blog!Stay tuned -- more about the Midwest to come in the future.Sharlene Miller, CGCG and Certified Genealogist are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists used under license by those who have passed BCG's periodic examination process.